Wagashi Forest Introduction
The Hong Cha master, Shih Chao-hsing, graduated from the "Tea Industry Training Institute" in his early years. In 1951, he was assigned by the Japanese to work at the "Chimu Black Tea Factory," inheriting the tea production techniques from the old masters. He served as the "Factory Director" until his retirement, and his passion and dedication to black tea witnessed the rise and fall of the Sun Moon Lake black tea industry. Once, Sun Moon Lake black tea was immensely popular, from the cultivation efforts in the early days of Japanese rule to the prosperous tea years of the 1960s, when tea gardens covered the mountains. However, with the drastic changes in the tea industry and the influx of cheap foreign tea, the Sun Moon Lake black tea industry gradually declined. The old master cultivated tea and produced tea for sixty years, cherishing his bond with the land and maintaining hope for the industry. Therefore, when others became wealthy through betel nut farming, he insisted on continuing to cultivate tea, choosing to believe that black tea would shine again one day. For Shih Chua-hua and Chen Yen-chuan, a couple inheriting two generations of tradition, they carry on their father's artisan spirit and tea production techniques, determined not only to produce excellent tea but also to ensure that good tea is recognized, creating a new image for Sun Moon Lake black tea. In 2015, they established a tourist tea factory, providing a place to witness the historical and cultural development of the Sun Moon Lake black tea industry, helping more people understand the knowledge of black tea and contributing to the local cultural heritage, while further promoting the culture of Sun Moon Lake black tea, allowing the world to witness the revival of Sun Moon Lake tea art.
